WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and co-lead Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) introduced the Make American Flags in America Act, which would ensure that any American flag displayed on federal property or purchased by our federal agencies is entirely manufactured in the United States from American-produced materials.
This legislation will promote U.S. manufacturing by reinforcing demand for domestic materials and labor in the production of American flags, further strengthening our economy and the industries that employ American workers.
The American flag is one of the most enduring symbols of our democracy. However, many flags flown on federal property or purchased by federal agencies today are manufactured overseas using foreign materials. This diminishes the value of our flag as a symbol of national pride and as a product emblematic of the American worker.
Currently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has standards in place to protect consumers through country-of-origin labeling requirements, but enforcement and compliance are inconsistent. This allows foreign-produced flags to be labeled as American-made despite not meeting the strict standards Americans expect.
“This is a no-brainer: American flags should be made in America,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Our flag is a symbol of democracy, power, and glory. The best way to honor these principles is to make sure our nation’s economy and American manufacturers benefit from it.”
Congressman Landsman said, “The American flag represents so much—our nation’s history, and our future to come. It’s right that our flags be manufactured here in America.”
Other original co-sponsors on this bill include: Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Rep. Rob Aderholt (R-AL), Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Donald Davis (D-NC), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep Eric Burlison (R-MO), Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (D-NY), and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY).
This bill is supported by the National Council of Textile Organizations, Flag Manufacturers Association of America, National Independent Flag Dealers Association, and New York State Association of Counties.
“The FMAA and its member companies strongly support the leadership efforts of Congressman Langworthy and all the congressional cosponsors in their support of this truly bipartisan legislation protecting the symbol of our Nation, the Flag of the United States of America. Enactment of this bill, the Make American Flags in America Act, takes the necessary steps to ensure that all American Flags, procured by all federal agencies, and displayed on all federal property, be required to be ‘Made in the United States of America’. The American flag and the FMAA have been under growing attack from the sale of counterfeit American Flags, mostly from China, being sold on e-commerce platforms to our federal, state, and local governments, as well as to unsuspecting American consumers. These sales are intentionally misleading Americans, falsely advertising country of origin and bypassing country of origin labeling laws that are explicitly required under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. Passage of this bill will usher in a new chapter of awareness and enforcement for our federal procurement agencies to be made aware and actively participate in the effort to only purchase American flags that are ‘Made in America’. ” said Lauren VandenBosch, Flag Manufacturers Association of America President.
Kim Glas, National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO said, “We sincerely appreciate Congressman Langworthy’s leadership and the co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill requiring the federal government to buy 100% American-made U.S. flags, including flags displayed on federal property. The U.S. flag industry is key part of the broader American textile industry which is a strategic and critical domestic manufacturing sector supporting thousands of companies and 500,000 U.S. jobs. Many of these companies are generationally owned and based in rural communities across the country. While the industry remains resilient, it is facing economic distress, due in large part to China’s illegal trade practices such as dumping subsidized and falsely labeled flags on the U.S. market that undermine our vital industry and its workers. U.S. flag makers and textile workers cannot compete against unfair predatory trade practices. No industry can. But we can compete when the playing field is equal. Ensuring that U.S. government procurement of American flags is fully sourced domestically is imperative to not only helping stabilize our domestic flag industry but also closing a backdoor to cheap, subsidized Chinese-made flags in federal supply chains. We fully support this legislation and look forward to working with Congressman Langworthy and the other co-sponsors to advance it across the finish line this year.”
“As President of the National Independent Flag Dealers Association (NIFDA), I am proud to express our strong support for the Make American Flags in America Act. We commend Representative Langworthy for his leadership in advancing this critical legislation. This bipartisan bill ensures that all American flags purchased with taxpayer dollars—regardless of purchase size—and displayed at government buildings are genuinely Made in the USA. By reinforcing domestic manufacturing, it protects American jobs and upholds the integrity of our nation’s most cherished symbol,” said David McGehee, NIFDA President. “We urge swift passage of this legislation and remain committed to working with lawmakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to ensure its enactment.”
Issues:Economy
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